Get away to the back yard

Photo Courtesy of Lowe'sUse a combination of furnishings specially made for outdoor living to create a welcoming backyard.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The idea of the “staycation” isn’t going away anytime soon, as evidenced by the continuing popularity of patio sets that mirror indoor furnishings and larger sets that can accommodate more guests.

At Montalbano’s Pool & Patio, which has locations in Bulls Head and Dongan Hills, manager Kenny Montalbano has seen more customers decking out their porches and patios with chat sets consisting of love seats, sofa-like chairs and coffee tables.

“It used to be traditional for people to have these in a basement and family room, and now they’re buying furniture to put in their back yard,” Montalbano said.

“People want family time outside,” he continued. “Plus, with the price of gas right now, more people are spending time in their back yard. The new word is ‘staycation.’¤”

His stores sell brands like Hanamint, Agio, Winston, Lloyd/Flanders and Pride. Montalbano noted that people with small yards or who live in apartments and only have balconies are purchasing smaller bistro sets, while those with more space may go toward patio sets that can seat up to 12.

FASHIONABLE FURNISHINGS

Other Island stores carrying patio furnishings include major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, Kmart, Sears, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Pier 1. A well-known name in outdoor furnishings is just a ride across the bridge into New Jersey for the Fortunoff Backyard Store.

“This year we’re seeing a continuation of the trend that has consumers extending their comfortable indoor living space into their back yards,” said Fortunoff Backyard Store chief executive officer Bernard Sensale. “People are opting for outdoor furniture that facilitates socializing, relaxation and fun.”

Sensale explained that in some cases, customers are opting for traditional-style dining sets, but with a twist. The sets have larger tables or come in the comfortable “balcony height,” which is higher than a dining set but lower than bar height.

Color is increasingly important this year, Sensale said, noting that shoppers are combining earth tones with vibrant colors to create a look that uniquely suits their taste and home.

Sensale pointed out that there have been advances in the durability of outdoor materials, with cast aluminum, wicker and wood being key materials for patio set frames.

“When these materials are combined with today’s acrylic-based fabrics,” he said, “customers have beautiful and comfortable furniture that they’ll enjoy for many years.”